Ricketts Taken 13th Overall by San Jose Earthquakes at MLS SuperDraft

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Soccer's Jamar Ricketts was selected in the first round and 13th overall by the San Jose Earthquakes at the 2024 MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday.

Ricketts becomes the second-highest drafted Matador in school history at the MLS SuperDraft and the third CSUN player to be selected in the first round.

Originally from Montclair, N.J., Ricketts had a banner season for the Matadors in 2023 as he was named to the All-Big West First Team and All-Far West Region Second Team. He scored a career-high eight goals while also posting new personal bests in assists (5), points (21), shots on goal (23) and total shots (37). Ricketts would lead the nation in shot on goal percentage at a .622 clip.

Ricketts scored five of his eight goals in Big West play, highlighted by a pair of game-winning strikes late in the season. He would register his first career multiple-goal effort in a victory over UC San Diego as well while he was named a two-time Big West Offensive Player of the Week during the campaign. In The Big West, Ricketts ranked third in goals and points, fifth in assists and sixth in shots.

Ricketts was a three-year letterwinner with the Matadors from 2021-23. He would improve his goal, assist and point outputs in each of his three years with CSUN. Over his career, Ricketts was a two-time All-Big West First Team selection while he was previously a Big West All-Freshman Team honoree in 2021. He would also earn a pair of United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region Second Team awards. In total, Ricketts registered 16 goals, 10 assists, 42 points and 104 shots in his CSUN career to go with a .548 shot on goal percentage.

"Jamar is as special a person as we've had in this program," said head coach Terry Davila. "He put his mind into being the best possible soccer player he can be. He worked hard over the summer, and he was the hardest worker in practice. Whatever the highest level of a soccer player he can be, he'll get there because he doesn't know any other way. He was the most beloved teammate of everyone, and we're going to miss him around the program. He's a great soccer player but he's an even better person. He's as good as it gets as a person."

Ricketts is the 11th Matador in school history to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft. He joins Sean Franklin (fourth overall, 2008) and Daniel Trejo (14th overall, 2021) as the only Matadors to be taken in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft.

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Ricketts Taken 13th Overall by San Jose Earthquakes at MLS SuperDraft

Players Mentioned

Jamar Ricketts

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